Budget Review Committee that scrutinized GSA budget to disband

Member says group felt underutilized in GSA’s strategic planning process

GSA’s board of trustees meeting on Sept. 17, inside the school’s library. Photo by Maizy Weirich.

Sept. 22, 2026

By Maizy Weirich

After four years of questioning finances at George Stevens Academy, the Budget Review Committee appears to be headed toward disbanding, according to one of its members.

At the end of GSA’s latest board meeting on Sept. 17 during the public comment period, Ben Wootten announced a likely disbandment of the BRC, which was made up of representatives from the school’s seven so-called “sending towns.”

“I think probably the final blow may have been that creating the new strategic plan, the BRC was not brought in in any way until after it was pretty much finalized,” Wootten said. He was referring to the school’s new strategic plan unveiled this summer that aims to bring enrollment back up to 225 students within five years, among other goals.

Head of School Shelly Schildroth confirmed that the school’s enrollment now stands at 193 students. That number represents a seven percent drop over last year’s high of 208 students.

“I think people just at that point said that, ‘We don’t think that they really care,’…and that it’s just kind of a waste of time for people to commit to it,” Wootten said.

Wootten said that limited conversations happening now between the BRC and GSA, he was unable to garner enough “enthusiasm” to continue the committee. 

“Nobody really seemed to have much hope that the BRC was ever going to be utilized to help you, the board, do a better job,” Wootten said. 

Schildroth, said: “Okay, thank you.” The board moved on to other comments.

New co-chairs, new course, new cell ban

The board also said goodbye to its chair, Deb Ludlow, who is stepping down from the leadership position following the completion of her three-year term. Moving forward, the board is instituting co-chairs.

“When I started this chairmanship, there was a lot going on, and I realized early on that I was going to need some help. So I asked for help, and I was given help,” Ludlow said.

The new co-chairs are Chris Gleason and Eden Cowart.

In other news, GSA and the Shaw Institute are reporting positive developments from the course collaboration “Introduction to Scientific Research,” taught by the head of the institute, Dr. Charles Rolsky, where students are achieving an approachable and tangible experience of being a scientist outside of the classroom, offered to all four grades. 

“We do everything at Shaw. Tomorrow we have class, and we’re going to walk right to the town park. We’re going to put waiters on and start sampling,” Rosky said. 

Schildroth also provided an update on the Gateway project, a nearly $3 million facelift for the bus drop off area and student entrance.

“There were some pipes that we found that weren't on the original plan, and so things had to go back through the engineering process, and so we are a bit delayed,” she said.

However, Schildroth remains optimistic about a first coat of paving this fall on campus, as well as hoping to have the brick, panels, and gutters worked on by the beginning of next year. Sidewalks and plantings are expected to be finished in the spring of 2027.

Schildroth also addressed the implementation of the state’s new bell-to-bell cellphone ban, which she said has been received positively thus far. 

“We have had fewer than five, I think the real number is three infractions this entire year.” Schildroth said, “And more importantly, we have a lot more energy in between classes and in our lunchroom.” 

To read The Rising Tide’s reporting on the phone ban for the first few weeks of school, click here.